More theft charges for man convicted in donkey case

Published: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.

OCALA - Additional charges were placed on a 32-year-old man who is on probation for sexual activity with a miniature donkey, a day after his arrest by authorities.

The offenses, felony criminal mischief and grand theft, were added Friday at 6 p.m. They are on top of two other charges of dealing in stolen property and violation of Florida's pawnbroker act, both filed when Carlos Romero was taken into custody late Thursday night.

Romero made his first appearance in front of Judge Sue Robbins Saturday morning at the Marion County Jail.

Standing beside a handcuffed Romero, who was dressed in jail red and white pants and short-sleeve shirt, was Scott Schmidt from the public defender's office.

While the bond on Romero's latest arrest report states no bond, Schmidt asked the judge if she could set a reasonable bond.

Before assessing bond, an assistant state attorney told the judge Romero had three prior convictions for battery on a law enforcement official.

Bond for the four charges was set at $52,000. It's unknown if the charges will violate his probation.

"I can't afford that bond," Romero said outside the courtroom, talking to a Star-Banner reporter. "They took away my life, my ability to make a living, all my assets are gone. They've made me a criminal."

Although he admitted to taking four train batteries, Romero said he was "surprised" at the new charges.

The batteries were later recovered from a recycling company after officials there told police Romero had brought the items in for scrap and he was paid $161.46.

Identifying him as the person who sold the batteries, authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest for dealing in stolen property and violation of Florida's pawnbroker act.

On Friday, Ocala police detective Lenny Uptagraft interviewed Romero at the jail and he confessed to removing the batteries and scrapping them, authorities said.

Company officials contend the person who took the batteries had emptied their contents, battery acid and water.

Talking with the reporter after his arrest on Thursday, Romero said since his probation, he has been living in the woods or his 1981 Ford F-150 pickup and eating food from Dumpsters. He also said he needed the cash to pay for his vehicle's insurance. On Dec. 14, Romero accepted a plea offer from the State Attorney's Office for a year of probation and a $200 fine, avoiding jail at the time. He pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a miniature donkey named Doodle.

As part of his plea deal, Romero was ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and possible treatment and HIV and STD testing. Romero cannot have contact with children in a school or playground setting or unsupervised contact with animals.

<p>OCALA - Additional charges were placed on a 32-year-old man who is on probation for sexual activity with a miniature donkey, a day after his arrest by authorities.</p><p>The offenses, felony criminal mischief and grand theft, were added Friday at 6 p.m. They are on top of two other charges of dealing in stolen property and violation of Florida's pawnbroker act, both filed when Carlos Romero was taken into custody late Thursday night.</p><p>Romero made his first appearance in front of Judge Sue Robbins Saturday morning at the Marion County Jail.</p><p>Standing beside a handcuffed Romero, who was dressed in jail red and white pants and short-sleeve shirt, was Scott Schmidt from the public defender's office.</p><p>While the bond on Romero's latest arrest report states no bond, Schmidt asked the judge if she could set a reasonable bond.</p><p>Before assessing bond, an assistant state attorney told the judge Romero had three prior convictions for battery on a law enforcement official.</p><p>Bond for the four charges was set at $52,000. It's unknown if the charges will violate his probation.</p><p>"I can't afford that bond," Romero said outside the courtroom, talking to a Star-Banner reporter. "They took away my life, my ability to make a living, all my assets are gone. They've made me a criminal."</p><p>Although he admitted to taking four train batteries, Romero said he was "surprised" at the new charges.</p><p>"I'm going to fight the charges," he said.</p><p>His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.</p><p>Late Thursday night, Romero was arrested by Ocala police officers after officials had obtained two arrest warrants stemming from Florida Northern Railroad employees saying someone had stolen 16 train batteries valued at $10,880.</p><p>The batteries were later recovered from a recycling company after officials there told police Romero had brought the items in for scrap and he was paid $161.46.</p><p>Identifying him as the person who sold the batteries, authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest for dealing in stolen property and violation of Florida's pawnbroker act.</p><p>On Friday, Ocala police detective Lenny Uptagraft interviewed Romero at the jail and he confessed to removing the batteries and scrapping them, authorities said.</p><p>Company officials contend the person who took the batteries had emptied their contents, battery acid and water.</p><p>Talking with the reporter after his arrest on Thursday, Romero said since his probation, he has been living in the woods or his 1981 Ford F-150 pickup and eating food from Dumpsters. He also said he needed the cash to pay for his vehicle's insurance. On Dec. 14, Romero accepted a plea offer from the State Attorney's Office for a year of probation and a $200 fine, avoiding jail at the time. He pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a miniature donkey named Doodle.</p><p>As part of his plea deal, Romero was ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and possible treatment and HIV and STD testing. Romero cannot have contact with children in a school or playground setting or unsupervised contact with animals.</p><p>He was also required to give up the donkey.</p>